Gretsch Holy Grail Duo Jets

A close-up of the DeArmond
Dynasonic-equipped 1954 Silver
Jet. Courtesy of Matt Riz/Photo
by Rachel Thoele

In the summer of 1953, the Gretsch
Company responded to the new threat
of solidbody electric guitars from both
Gibson and Fender with its own offering—the Gretsch Duo Jet model 6128. With its
dual DeArmond Dynasonic pickups, the
6128 possessed contours that were clearly
inspired by the Gibson’s highly successful
Les Paul model introduced in 1952. The
Duo Jet was also the first Gretsch electric
model to facilitate truss-rod adjustments
via a headstock mechanism concealed by a
bullet-shaped cover. Unlike the Les Paul’s
metallic “goldtop” finish, the Gretsch Duo
Jet featured a black top made of Nitron
plastic. And although it was considered a
solidbody instrument, it in fact employed
a chambered body that reduced weight and
contributed to the model’s signature tone.

Upon returning to production after World
War II, the Gretsch factory in Brooklyn, New
York, initiated a sequential serial-numbering
system that marked instruments with stamped
paper labels that were applied inside the
guitars. Jet solidbodies’ labels were inside the
large control cavity in the back of the guitar.
A unique feature not shared by other Gretsch
models is the fact that the Duo Jet also had
its serial number handwritten on the outside
edge of the black plate covering the large
control cavity. This was done to relieve the
retailer from having to remove the plate to
document the number.

A rare example of an early 1954 Gretsch Silver Jet from the fi rst production batch to include the
sparkly variation on the Duo Jet design. Guitar Courtesy of Matt Riz/Photo by Rachel Thoele

Birth and a Sparkly Evolution
The Gretsch factory was
known to have produced guitars
in batches, typically 50
or 100 units of a particular
model at a time. However, the
debut 6128 batch consisted
of 150 units with serial numbers
from 11900 to 12049.
These are considered the sole
examples of 1953-model-year
Duo Jets. The identifying feature
of these debut-batch Duo
Jets is the “script”-style logo
inlaid on their headstocks—a
carryover from the company’s
Synchromatic guitar line,
which had a similar type style
in its headstock logos. The
limited production of these
1953 script-logo Duo Jets
makes them quite popular
with collectors.

The second batch of Duo
Jets also had 150 units (serial
numbers 12950–13099).
These are considered the first
of the 1954 model year. These
’54 Jets featured a new inlaid
headstock logo commonly
referred to as the Gretsch
“T-roof ” logo. Included in
this batch was a new iteration
of the Jet solidbody known
as the Silver Jet model 6129.
This variation on the Duo
Jet theme featured a lustrous
silver-sparkle top made from
the same material that the
Gretsch factory used to cover
drum shells. This model represents
the first example of the
Jet solidbody format expanded
with new finish options.
Subsequent Jet solidbody
batches would be produced
with a mix of both model
6128 Duo Jets and model
6129 Silver Jets.

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